Every Saturday, Ryan Phelan hunts for the most reliable locks to strengthen your multi bets. By analysing race maps, sectional times, and key trainer/driver combinations, he delivers sharp insights to add confidence – and a touch of excitement – to your harness racing, thoroughbred, or sports multis.
Each selection is rated with low, medium, or high confidence and includes a suggested place or win price. The goal? Minimise risk, maximise consistency, and stack the odds in your favour for a strong overall return.
Race 1 – 2240m Mimosa Homes Winter Series NMW Trot
1/2 Nakedtruth – Chris Alford/Alison Alford
Nakedtruth gets the perfect set-up to continue his good form after winning arguably the strongest heat of this series. He now draws to lead and control proceedings again. All things being equal, it’s hard to see how he doesn’t win based on exposed form and apparent map favours.
Confidence: High Rated Win Price: $2.50
Race 2 – 2240m Betavet Winter Series NMW Pace Final
2/2 Keayang Sweetheart – Jason Lee/Marg & Paddy Lee
Similar to the opening race, this is a heat-to-final series for the pacers, but the map here makes the race far more open. Keayang Sweetheart fares better than in recent starts where she has been forced to work hard or has simply run into one better. She can secure a nice run on speed and, with an even tempo, be strong late.
Confidence: Medium Rated Place Price: $1.50
Race 3 – 2240m Hyland Racing Colours Trot
3/5 Aldebaran Abel – James Herbertson/Geoff Webster
Aldebaran Abel appears to have matured as a four-year-old. In his three starts this campaign, albeit in weaker company, he has performed well. He draws better than his main rival Artigas and should secure a handy position in the run. There shouldn’t be much between them in the market, making him the potential value runner.
Confidence: Medium Rated Place Price: $2.50
Race 4 – 1720m Hip Pocket Castlemaine Pace
4/6 Most Exciting – Mark Pitt/Emma Stewart
A quality race featuring several horses destined for bigger things. Miss Ari and Most Exciting look to be the main two on paper to gain market attention. Most Exciting looks to be the better map horse, and the stable and driver strike rate when they can race on pace is hard to beat.
Confidence: Medium Rated Win Price: $2.80
Race 5 – 2240m Breeders Crown 3yo Noms Now Open Pace
5/2 Dynamitedan – James Herbertson/Emma Stewart
This looks a match race between two high-quality colts in Dynamitedan and Luvtobeuptome, who draw alongside one another. There is very little between them in ability or where they sit in their preparations and, with the utmost respect to both, the slight edge goes to Dynamitedan courtesy of the barrier advantage.
Confidence: Medium Rated Win Price: $2.10
Race 6 – 2240m Benstud Standardbreds Pace
6/9 Kartiare – Chris Alford/Gary & Debbie Quinlan
With plenty of speed engaged off the front row, Kartiare looks ideally placed from the back row to strike third-up this preparation. He was brilliant when resuming, charging home from last, and this appears a more winnable assignment than the one he faced that night. With the race likely to be run at a genuine tempo, look for him to be storming home late.
Confidence: Medium Rated Win Price: $2.80
Race 7 – 2240m Garards Horse And Hound FFA Trot
6/6 Rockinwithattitude – David Miles/David Miles
What a terrific trotting event we have in store, with much of the field bound for Queensland and the Inter Dominion series. Mercano is the star four-year-old, Rockinwithattitude is a six-time Group 1 winner and Arcee Phoenix is the defending Inter Dominion champion. Even though Rockinwithattitude resumes here, her tactical speed should see her secure the best position and make her the most confident play in the race.
Confidence: Medium Rated Win Price: $2.80
Race 8 – 2240m Melton City Council FFA
7/3 Fox Dan – Ryan Sanderson/Emma Stewart
A tricky race with a high-quality small field where the map creates some uncertainty. Fox Dan will press forward, My Ultimate Barney will be driven aggressively, and Bay Of Biscay could even be waved through at some stage. Fox Dan deserves favouritism, but it would be price dependent before wanting to get too heavily involved.
Confidence: Low Rated Win Price: $2.40
Race 9 – 2240m Swift Signs Trot
9/6 Vytis – Emmett Brosnan/Emmett & Richard Brosnan
Vytis excelled in his 2 & 3yo seasons as one of the better performed trotters of his age group, and his return from a spell last week, suggests he’s in for a big prep. In what was a strong field he pressed forward and was forced to sit parked in good time, still coming on the line. This appears much more suitable and deserves to be short odds.
Confidence: High Rated Win Price: $1.35
Race 10 – 1720m Hygain Edge Pace
9/3 The Art Of Success – Mark Pitt/Emma Stewart
The Art Of Success is entitled to start a short-priced favourite here, chasing her 7th win from 9 starts this season, and has progressed to this level quickly as a result. In saying that it may not be an easy watch with a good deal of gate speed around her, but the way she’s progressing is expected to be too classy.
Confidence: High Rated Win Price: $1.30
For all your harness form in one place go to goodform.thetrots.com.au
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